GoPro has recalled some 2,500 Karma drones purchased in the US since Oct. 23 because the unmanned aerial vehicles lost power during operation in "a very small number of cases," the company says.
No related injuries or property damage have been reported.
"Safety is our top priority," GoPro CEO Nicholas Woodman said in a statement. "We have moved quickly to recall all units of Karma and provide a full refund while we investigate the issue."
The manufacturer is working with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission and Federal Aviation Administration, and promised all Karma owners a full refund—$799.99 for the drone, or $1,099 bundled with a Hero5 Black camera.
Even those customers whose drone appears to be operating without issue are asked to immediately stop using the product and return it via Best Buy or GoPro. The Hero5 Black and Karma Grip are not part of the recall, but "if you purchased the Karma drone bundle package, which included Hero5 Black and Karma Grip, you must return those with your Karma drone for a full refund," GoPro says.
Replacement units are not currently available; GoPro plans to resume shipments as soon as the problem is resolved.
"We are very sorry to have inconvenienced our customers and we are taking every step to make the return and refund process as easy as possible," Woodman said.
The action cam maker in September unveiled its own UAV aimed at adventure sports enthusiasts. Compact and foldable, the Karma (plus accessories) fit into an included backpack. The controller, modeled after a gamepad, makes flying easy for frozen or wet fingers; its integrated touch display allows users to stream live footage from the the Karma.
Included with the drone is a three-axis camera stabilizer, which attaches to the Karma Grip and enables users to get stable handheld footage on the ground, as well as in the air.
GoPro also announced the new Hero5 Black camera, which shoots in 4K at 30fps and takes 12-megapixel stills while submerged in up to 33 feet of water. It sports a 2-inch touch-sensitive display for video and audio adjustments, GPS, and a stereo microphone with built-in wind noise reduction.